Continuous-strip mileage-ticket



2 SheetsSheet l.

(No Model.)

W. B. SHATTUG;

CONTINUOUS STRIP MILEAGE TICKET. No. 559,870.

Patented May 12, 1896.

Tu TRAVEL. EVER.

L .L W T N E T E K m T E H TI.

5f I l ElENATLIFUL THIS TICKET ENTITL'ES- Tq THAVELUVER ABENTE: STLIB-ANDREW B GRAIMMIHOYDMTNO wasxmemn DC {No Model.) I 2 SheefssShet 2.

W. B. SHATTUG.

CONTINUOUS STRIP MILEAGE TICKET. No. 559,870. v Patented May 12, 1896.

AN nmfw a rmAMM. vnoTo-umovwnsnm ETONJI C UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

TL-LIAM. I SI'IATTUO, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

CONTINUOUS-STRIP MlLEAGE-TlCKET.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 559,870, dated. May 12,1896.

Application filed September 29, 1893.

To all whont it may concern:

lie it known that I, WILLIAM B. SHATTUC, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, county of Hamilton, State of Ohio, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Continuous Strip Mileage-Tickets; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it ap iertains to make and use the same, reference bcin g hadto the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this speci fication.

My invention is designed to provide an improved continuous-stripmileage-ticket for railways. It is well understood that in a ticket ofthis nature it is very desirable to have the ticket so constructed andarranged that the mileage-coupons to be detached may be detached in asingle piece. A ticket so arranged that the number of coupons to bedetached may necessitate their being detached in more than a singlepiece is regarded as disadvantageous and undesirable.

It is therefore the mainphject of my invention to provide acontinuous-strip mileage-ticket whereby the number of coupons to hesevered may always be detached in a single piece.

My invention contemplates the general construction and arrangementof theticket hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 a view showing the face of theticket without a cover and the arrangement of the mileagc-numeralsthereon. Fig. 2 is a view showing the back of the ticket when the ticketis printed. upon both sides. Fig. 3 is a view showing the ticketprovided with a cover, the ticket being in position ready for thedetachment of certain coupons from left to right therefrom, the face ofthe ticket being uppermost and provided with guide-numorals in additionto the mileage-numbers. Fig. t is a similar view showing the back of theticket in'place in a cover in position for tea-ring off a number ofcoupons from left to right. Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of myinvention, showing the mileage-n umbers differently arranged across thestrip. Fig. 6

illustrates another modification, wherein the mileagehgm'es are arrangedverticallyon the Serial No. 486,789. (No specimens.)

strip. Fig. T shows the ticket inclosecl in a cover.

I carry out my invention as follows:

A represents my improved ticket, and B any suitable cover, if a cover isused. As shown in the first four figures, the mileageeoupons a are shownarranged in lines running transversely across the strip, the linesseparated by a light transverse printed line, as at a, and also byscored or perforated lines at right angles thereto, (indicated by thelongitudinal dotted lines, as at o The coupons are numbered between thetransverse lines in alternate order of arrangement, as from H 177 t1077! 4C )7 t LC 20, (t Mt 1:30,? a d so on in regular order, therebeing preferably ten coupons in each line, although I do not limitmyself to any definite number of coupons in a line. In Fig. 5 onlysixcouponsare shown on a transverse line. It will be convenient, however,and desirable to follow a decimal order of arrangement and promoteconvert ience in handling the ticket.

The fundamental and essential feature of my invention, I would have itclearly and especially understood, lies in arranging the numerals of theseries of mileage-coupons upon the ticket so as to read continuouslyhack and forth upon the ticket, as from left to right and from right toleft, alternately across the ticket in reverse directions. ing the firstforty coupons, for example, and as illustrative of the arrangement ofthe rest of the coupons, it will be perceived that on one side, whichmay be termed the face of the ticket, (shown in Figs. 1 and 3,) thefirst ten coupons have their mileagcuunnerals numbered from right toleft, the baggagenumerals l3 5 being on the rightmargin of the ticket.The mileage-n umerals in. the next horizontallinc-i. e., 11 to -readinalternate order from lef t to right. The mileage-numerals in the thirdhorizontal line- 21 to also read from right to left. The numerals in thefourth line-31 to read from left to right, and so on throughout theentire series of coupons,which maybe of any desired number. It will beseen thus that the next numerals in order in each succeedinghorizontalline of the coupons hegin to read. upon the same side of the ticketwhere those on the preeedinghorizontal line of the ticket left off. Thisalternate arrangement of the mileage-numbers reading in reversedirections upon the ticket is indispensable in order to have any desirednumber'of coupons capable of being always detached in a single piecewhere there is more than one mile indicated on a line. This arrangementof the mileage-numbers upon the coupons may fitly be termed a rotationof numbers from right to left and from left to right alternately, andwill always permit any number of coupens to be detached in a continuousor single strip. Without numbering the mileage-coupons back and forthalternately, as shown, a desired number'of coupons cannot always bedetached in a single piece.

A ticket might be used constructed as shown in Fig. 1. within the scopeof my invention, printed on only one side, without a cover and with onlymileage-numerals printed upon the coupons in the alternate order ofarrangement shown in said Fig. 1 and as above described. If the ticketwas to be used in this manner of construction, the coupons could be tornoff by hand along the scored lines, or detachments might be made withscissors or otherwise, as might be desired, and I desire to have itunderstood that I wish to claim, broadly, such aticket embodying thealternation or rotation of the mileage-numerals with or withoutguide-numerals or cover and printed upon'one or upon both sides.

In order that the coupons may be always torn off from left to right, Iprefer to make the ticket reversible, so that either side of the ticketmaybe turned uppermost, as may be required. To this end themileage-numerals may be printed upon the face and back of the ticket, soas to correspond the one with the other. Thus, for example,mileage-numeral 1 is over the corresponding numeral l on the reverseside of the ticket, and so on. It will be seen that upon the face of theticket, as shown in Fig. 1, the baggage coupons being at the right hand,the numerals from 1 to 10, for example, run from right to left. lVhenthe ticket is turned over, the same numbers run from left to right. So,also, the next line of coupons, numbered in order upon the face of theticket from 11 to 20, read from left to right; but on reversing theticket the same numerals 11 to 20 run from right to left. It is obvious,therefore, that whenever on a given side of the ticket a line ofmileage-numerals beneath which the coupons are to be torn off runs fromleft to right that side of the ticket may beheld uppermost to sever theticket from left to right; but where the mileage-numerals on a givenside of the ticket above the line to be torn off run from right to leftit is only requisite for the conductor to turn the ticket over to severthe coupon from left to right. It becomes important, therefore, for thispurpose to print the tickets on both sides in a corresponding manner, asby this provision the tearing off of the ticket may be alwaysaccomplished from left to rightby holding either side of the ticketuppermost as maybe required for convenience of handling. The series ofmileage-numbers running from left to right upon the face of the ticketmay be printed in ink of a desired color, while all of themileage-numbers which upon the face of the ticket run from right to leftmay be printed in another color. Upon the back of the ticket the samearrangement of colors in which the numerals are printed" may be observed. For example, the numerals 011 either side which run from rightto left might be printed in black ink and those which run from left toright in red ink. The conductor will thus see more readily which side ofthe ticket to hold uppermost in order to sever the coupon from left toright.

In pulling out the ticket to sever any number of coupons along a giventransverse line a it will readily be seen that the cover, if used,conceals the mileage-numerals in the line of coupons next below. Vhen itbecomes desirable to know just where any given mileage-numeral lies inthe line below, especially where a portion of the coupons in the linebelow are to be torn off, each coupon, in addition to themileage-numerals indicated by the larger figures, may also have printedthereon a smaller numeral, which I term a guide -nun1eral, arranged toindicate cxactly the corresponding mileage-numeral in the line below.Thus, for example, on the coupon bearing the mileage-numeral 18 is founda guide-numeral 23, and it willbc pcrceived by reference to the drawingsthat the mileage-numeral 23 is in the line below and adjacent to theguide-numeral inthc line above. By this construction and arrangement ifit is desired to tear off twen ty-thrcc miles the coupons will be tornoff on the proper printed line between the guide-numerals and themileage-numerals below to the guide-numeral 23. The ticket will then besevered on the 1 vertical or perforated line between coupons So, also, Iprefer that each horizontal line of the coupons shall bear thename ofthe railway for which the ticket is constructed-for example, the A. I3.0. R. R. (Indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.) The cover Bherewith shown consists simply of two leaves i or cover-pages to inclosethe ticket, the open ends of the cover serving as straight edges fortearing off the coupons. I do not, however limit myself to anyparticular construction of the cover, nor indeed to the employment ofany cover at all, as I have above explained, since the coupons might besevered with a pair of scissors or otherwise in any ITS desired manner.So while I prefer to employ a cover it may be entirely omitted withoutdeparting from the principle of my invention.

\Vhile I have above described the mileage and guide numerals as runningtransversely in a decimal order upon the ticket, this arrangement is notindispensable to my invention, as the numerals might run in verticalcolumns and in any other than a decimal order, as maybe desired, and asindicated, for example, in Figs. 5 and (3. Instructions to trainmen howto operate the ticket may be printed upon the cover if used. The ticketwith cover attached may be operated in the following manner: It will bemost natural to hold the ticket in the left hand with the open end ofthe cover from the conductor. \Vhere the ticket is printed on bothsides, it will be immaterial which side of the ticket is up at theoutset. The mileage-numerals being indicated in bold-face type arereadily distinguished from the guide figures in smaller type, which willreadily indicate what mile number or coupon is immediately below at anypoint under the cover.

I will describe the operation of in y improved ticket in connection witha ticket printed on both sides, as above described.

In making detachments of the coupons the conductor should proceed asfollows: Add to the number in large type 011 the first coupon in orderon the strip, which will of course be the smaller number in large typeofthe strip, one mile less than the passenger wishes to travel. The resultso obtained will designate the last-numbered coupon to be detached. Thestrip is then pulled out of the cover until the number so obtainedappears in small or guide-numeral type beyond the cover. If thesefigures are printed in black ink, different-colored inks being used, asabove described, the book is to be turned over before doing any tearing,in orderto make the proper detachment. This will enable the conductor totear alongtheprinted line from left to right to the scored line betweensaid guide-number and the next higher number in small type. Theconductor then pulls the strip out of the cover to the next printed linea below, tears down along the scored line above mentioned to the nexttransverse printed line, and then again tears from left to right acrossthe strip. The number of coupons thus detached will be found to becorrect. If when the strip is pulled out, as above described, thedesired guide-n umber appears in red ink,when different inks are used,the detachment should be made without turning the book over in precisely the same manner as above described, where the book. was turnedover, the tearing being always from left to right. A couple of exampleswill make the manner of detachment plain.

Example No. 1: The passenger presenting his ticket wishes to travel, wewill suppose, fortynine miles. The first numbered coupon is, let ussuppose, 2". Forty-eight added to The strip twenty'seven equalsseventy-five.

Y said scored line to the next transverse printed line and then fromleft to right along the lastmcntioned line across the strip, andfortynine miles will have been detached, the last coupon detachedbearing the lllilBflgG-lllb meral 75.

Example No. 2: Now suppose this same book is presented again for passageand the passenger wishes to travel seventy-one miles. The first numberedcoupon is 76. Seventy added to seventy-six equals one hundred andforty-six. The strip is then pulled out until this guide-nuinber insmall type appears beyond the cover. These figures, wheredifferent-colored inks are used, as above described, would be printed inred ink, so the book would not be turned over. The conductor then tearsfrom left to right along the transverse printed line below theguide-number 146 to the longitudinal]y-scored line between numbers 146and 147 in small type. He then pulls the strip out to the nexttransverse printed line and tears donui said scored line to the lastmentioned transverse line and then tears from left to right along theprinted line across the strip and seventy-one miles will have beendetached, the last coupon detached bearing the mileage-number 146.

In both the above examples the strip was held with the baggage-couponsto the right. Had the book in the first place been held with the otherside up it would not have been required to turn it over to make thedetachment referred to in the first example, and would have been turnedover in that event to make the detachment referred to in the secondexample.

It will be obvious that when the last coupon to be detached is the onebearing the highestnumbcr in anyline on either end detachment may bemade from either side without regard to the direction in which the numbers run or without regard to what color of ink the figures may beprinted in by simply tearing across the strip from left to right. lVhenit is ascertained by the small or guide figures that the coupon last tobe detached is the highest mileage-number in the line below, theconductor will pull the strip out one space farther and then make thedetachment as just described.

While it is often desirable that the coupons should be constructed andarranged so that anydesirodnumber maybe torn off from left to right, Ido not limit myself to such a construction solely, as any desired numberof conpons maybe severed in a single piece by my invention withoutdetaching them from left to right. The particular method of detachingthem is of secondary importance. Printing the ticket on both sides, asabove described, furnishes a desirable way in many cases to use thesystem, inasmuch as it willbe more inconvenient and awkward to sever thecoupons from right to left, but the latter maybe done within the scopeof my invention. The construction whereby coupons may be detached fromleft to right is simply a preferable arrangement to be adopted wheresuch a construction may be desired, but I would have it definitelyunderstood that the main object of my invention may be carried outwithout so arranging the coupons as to be always severed from left toright. Such a construction facilitates the handling of the ticket whenused in connection with a cover, but where the continuous strip is usedwithout a cover it is not so essential. So, also, I do not limit myinvention to the construction solely where the guide-numerals areemployed. Their use facilitates the operation of the ticket under manycircumstances, but it is not absolutely necessary.

The matter of chief importance, as hereinbefore stated, is theconstruction and arrangement whereby the coupons are numberedconsecutively to read alternately in reverse directions, so that anydesired number of conpons may be detached in a single piece.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A continuous-strip mileage-ticketprovided with rows or series of coupons having thereuponmileage-numerals arranged in consecutive order, the numerals of saidrows or series of coupons alternately reading in reverse directions,substantially as described.

2. A continuous-strip mileage-ticket having both faces of the ticketprovided with a series of coupons numbered consecutively, the numeralsof said rows or series of coupons arranged to read alternately inreverse directions, the numerals upon one face of said ticketregistering with the corresponding numbers upon the opposite face of theticket, substantially as described.

3. A continuous-stripmileage-ticket having rows or series of couponsprovided with mileage-nu merals and with guide-numerals arranged inconsecutive order, the mileagenumerals and guide-numerals of said rowsor series of the coupons alternately reading in reverse directions,substantially as described.

4. A continuous-strip mileage-ticket provided with rows or series ofcoupons having thereupon mileage-numerals arranged consecutively, saidrows or series of coupons separated by lines running at right angles oneto the other, and the numerals of said rows or series readingalternately in reverse directions, substantially as described.

5. A continuous-strip mileage-ticket having thereupon rows or series ofcoupons provided with mileage-numerals and guide-numerals arrangedconsecutively, the numerals of said rows or series reading alternatelyin reverse directions, the guide-numerals of one row or series of saidcoupons corresponding to the mileage-numerals of the next succeeding rowor series of coupons, and located adjacent to said correspondingnumbers, substantially as described.

0. A continuous-strip m ileage-ticket having the numerals of its couponsarranged in series reading alternately in reverse directions, wherebyany number of coupons may be torn off from left to right in a singlepiece.

7. A mileage-ticket provided with coupons numbered consecutively to readalternately in reverse directions whereby the desired number of couponsmay be detached in a single piece.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

\VILLIAM B. SHATTUC.

\Vitnesses:

Geo. F. WELLs, O. P. MAcKnLFREsH.

